Saints and Tombs of Erzurum

Ebu İshak Kazeruni Lodge Tomb (Seyyid Ali) — Maqam

Ebu İshak Kazeruni (Ibrahim b. Şehriyar, 963-1035) was a famous Sufi born and died in Kazerun near Shiraz, eponym of the Ishaqiyya/Kazeruniyya order. The structure in a bastion of Erzurum castle is a lodge founded in his name; per historian İ.H. Konyalı he himself is buried in Kazerun — the Erzurum site is a MAQAM/lodge-tomb (the grave inside is locally attributed to 'Seyyid Ali'). Restored by the Ministry of Culture in 2006. (Sources: Erzurum Encyclopedia; Kültür Portalı)

Taşkesenli Sheikh Muhammed Sıddık Efendi

A scholar of the Taşkesenli ulema family (grandson of Sheikh Ahmed Efendi), born in Erzurum's Sultanmelik quarter. He studied Arabic, fiqh, hadith and tafsir, served as mufti of Tekman (1952-54) and Horasan (1954-60), then as central preacher of Erzurum. He became a disciple and successor of Sheikh Taha Efendi. He was buried in the family plot at Asrî Cemetery. (Sources: Evliyalar.net; TDV Encyclopedia of Islam 'Taşkesenli')

Taşkesenli Sheikh Alaeddin Efendi

Born in 1881 in Taşkesen village (Tekman), a member of the Taşkesenli ulema family and nephew of Sheikh Ahmed Taşkeseni. A müderris expert in fiqh and Arabic grammar, he taught in the villages of Taşkesen, Komasor, Çukuryayla and Alaca. He died in 1967 in Taşkesen village and was buried in the village cemetery. (Sources: Evliyalar.net; Erzurum Gazetesi 'Erzurum'un Kandilleri')

Çöğenderli Hacı Salih Efendi

Born in 1898 in Çaykara, Trabzon; when his family settled in Çöğender village (Pasinler) he became known as 'Çöğenderli' and was a hafiz by age seven. He became a disciple of Hacı Ferşad Efendi of the Naqshbandi-Gümüşhanevi branch. He died on 2 February 1991; his remains were transferred to Çöğender village six months later. His tomb at the village entrance is an open structure of two domes on four columns. (Sources: Evliyalar.net; Erzurum Portalı)

Pir Ali Baba

A 16th-century Sufi of Erzurum holding ijaza in the Halveti, Rifai, Qadiri and Naqshbandi paths. His endowment deed is dated AH 940/1533; he dedicated village revenues to the annual 'thousand-and-one Qur'an completions' (binbir hatim), a tradition still observed in Erzurum. His tomb sits on Pir Ali Baba hill between Dutçu (Tuzcu) and Tepeköy; it bears no inscription. His exact death year is uncertain (approximate, from the endowment date). (Sources: Erzurum Governorate / Provincial Culture Dir.; Erzurum Youth Foundation; Erzurum Portalı)

Solakzade Muhammed Sadik Efendi

Born in 1881 into a scholarly Erzurum family, he served as mufti of Erzurum for decades and took part in the Erzurum Congress during the War of Independence. Proficient in Arabic and Persian, he taught in madrasas and in 1937 revived the 'thousand-and-one Qur'an completions' tradition begun by Pir Ali Baba. He died on 3 July 1960 and was buried in the family plot at Erzurum's Asrî Cemetery. (Sources: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam 'Solakbay, Muhammet Sadık'; Erzurum Encyclopedia)

Taşkesenli Sheikh Ahmed Efendi

Born in 1848 in Hacılar village (Karlıova, Bingöl), he was sent to Erzurum to guide people in the Naqshbandi-Halidi path through the lineage of Sıbgatullah Arvasi and Abdurrahman-ı Tagi. He taught at Erzurum's Caferiye Madrasa and was called 'Taşkesenli' for summering in Taşkesen village, granting ijaza to 78 students. He died on 24 March 1909 (AH 1327); his tomb is in the courtyard of Taşkesenli Mosque in central Erzurum. (Sources: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam 'Taşkesenli'; Encyclopedia of Saints)

Habib Baba (Habib-i Hindî)

(k.s.)

A Qādirī sheikh of Indian origin (called Habib-i Hindî), whose father was the mufti of Bukhara. On his master's instruction he settled in Erzurum to guide the people. He died in 1847 and was buried in the tomb in Yakutiye (Tebrizkapı), Erzurum, formerly known as the Timurtaş Baba Türbesi, later renamed after him.

Muhammed Lütfi Efendi of Alvar (Alvarlı Efe)

(k.s.)

A Naqshbandi-Khalidi Sufi poet and scholar born in 1868 in Kındığı (Altınbaşak) village of Pasinler (Hasankale), Erzurum. He is known for his poetic collection 'Hulâsatü'l-hakāyık' and is popularly called 'Alvarlı Efe.' He died on 12 March 1956 and is buried in the village of Alvar (Pasinler, Erzurum).

Abdurrahman Ghazi

(r.a.)

According to tradition, a companion of the Prophet held to have been martyred during the early Islamic campaigns in the region. His tomb lies at the foot of Palandöken Mountain southeast of Erzurum; the present türbe was built in 1796 by Ayşe Hanım, wife of the Erzurum governor Yusuf Ziya Pasha. It has been visited together with its adjoining lodge/zawiya since the 16th century.